Wolfgang Heimbac (1615-1678) Circle "the Candle"

Oil on canvas.
Dimensions:54 x 43 cm without the frame
wood Frame  17 century

A German painter originally from Olendburg who, despite his deafness, traveled extensively and spent almost his entire career on the move. Around 1630, he left Olendburg for the Northern Netherlands to further his training and refine his skills, likely passing through Amsterdam, Haarlem, Delft, and Utrecht. During his travels, he developed a great deal of adaptability, evolving his works according to demand. In Rome, he painted the portrait of Pope Innocent X; in Florence, he worked for the Medici; and in Denmark, he was court painter to Frederick III. It was by copying Willem Duyster's painting "The Officer with the Candle" that he became familiar with this technique. The use of candles as a light source in interiors was developed by Gerard van Honthorst and Georges de La Tour.